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Biomedical subjects

E Bassenge

Publications and source records attributed to E Bassenge.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Oxidized low density lipoproteins potentiate vasoconstrictions to various agonists by direct interaction with vascular smooth muscle.

In hypercholesterolemia, low density lipoproteins (LDLs) may be oxidized by monocytes/macrophages in the arterial wall. Therefore, we investigated the effect of LDL and its oxidative derivatives (ox-LDL) on vascular tone in isolated perfused rabbit femoral arteries. Perfusion of endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded segments with ox-LDL (80 micrograms protein/ml) caused no or only weak vasoconstrictions in the absence of contractile agonists. However, in the presence of ox-LDL, vasoconstrictions to threshold concentrations of norepinephrine, serotonin, phenylephrine, or potassium were significantly enhanced. This enhancement correlated with the degree of oxidation. When ox-LDL was administered at higher concentrations (greater than 200 micrograms protein/ml), it evoked moderate vasoconstrictions even in the absence of contractile agonists. Native LDL had no effect on vascular tone. Preincubation with verapamil, diltiazem, and nitrendipine inhibited vasoconstrictions evoked by ox-LDL, both in the presence and in the absence of a contractile agonist. The contractile responses to ox-LDL were significantly greater in endothelium-denuded segments than in endothelium-intact segments. At the above concentrations, ox-LDL had no influence on endothelium-derived relaxing factor-mediated vasodilations. These data indicate that ox-LDL enhances agonist-induced vasoconstrictions by a direct effect on the vascular smooth muscle. We therefore suggest that ox-LDL is an important factor that may increase the risk of inappropriate vasoconstriction in hypercholesterolemia, independent of its putative cytotoxic effect on the endothelium.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

L-arginine-dependent nitric oxide formation and nitrite release in bone marrow-derived macrophages stimulated with bacterial lipopeptide and lipopolysaccharide.

This study shows that stimulating bone marrow-derived macrophages with either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or the lipopeptide N-palmitoyl-S-(2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)-(2RS)-propyl)-(R)- cysteinyl-alanyl-glycine (Pam3Cys-Ala-Gly), a synthetic analogue of the N-terminal part of bacterial lipoprotein, leads to the formation of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrite (NO2-), a stable analogue of NO. NO was detected by applying the chemiluminescence method and by measuring the activity of exogenously added soluble guanylate cyclase (GC), which is strongly and selectively activated by NO. Synthesis of NO and NO2- occurs via activation of the L-arginine and NADPH-dependent enzyme(s) present in the cytosol of bone marrow-derived macrophages. No produced by this non-constitutive L-arginine pathway is thought to be responsible for the cytostatic and killing properties of macrophages (Stuehr & Nathan, 1989). Macrophages stimulated either with LPS or Pam3Cys-Ala-Gly exhibited a 6-hr lag time before engaging in nitrite synthesis, a time at which expression of the NO-forming enzyme had already reached its maximum. The regulation of NO and NO2- synthesis during macrophage development seems to differ from that of cytokine synthesis. Whereas cytokine release varies during a culture period up to 20 days, NO synthesis and expression of the NO-forming enzyme remain unaltered. These studies show that, similar to LPS, Pam3Cys-Ala-Gly is a potent activator of 'the oxidative L-arginine pathway' in bone marrow-derived macrophages. Whether both stimuli use the same signal transfer mechanism to induce this pathway and whether NO synthesized by this pathway is involved in the activation of the enzyme guanylate cyclase in macrophages requires clarification.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Increased plasma level of atrial natriuretic peptide in patients with stress-induced coronary insufficiency: stretch-independent release of atrial natriuretic peptide?].

Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were determined in 34 male patients undergoing diagnostic right heart catheterization. Patients with effort angina exhibited significant higher ANP levels at rest (259 +/- 42 pg/ml; n = 7) than patients without signs of coronary heart disease (78 +/- 30 pg/ml; n = 8). Patients with effort angina also had higher ANP levels at rest than patients exhibiting impaired cardiac function on exertion without signs of ischemia (105 +/- 15 pg/ml; n = 4), patients with only minimal functional alterations due to infarction residues (95 +/- 27 pg/ml; n = 7), or patients with only borderline changes of ST-segments during exertion (61 +/- 19 pg/ml; n = 8). In contrast, mean pulmonary capillary or right atrial pressures were not significantly different between the various groups of patients. The patients with effort angina also exhibited the highest ANP levels during bicycle exercise (846 +/- 238 pg/ml). There was only a weak to moderate linear correlation between ANP levels and pulmonary or right atrial pressures in the whole group of patients (r = 0.1-0.6). The plasma levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine and of ANP were not significantly correlated, with the exception of norepinephrine levels during exercise (r = 0.54). Our observations suggest that in patients with effort angina there may exist additional stretch-independent factors stimulating the release of ANP, possibly associated with repetitive myocardial ischemia.

Angina Pectoris↗
PubMed1990

Low-density lipoproteins stimulate internal free calcium and prostacyclin release in endothelial cells.

We have studied the effects of low density lipoproteins (LDL) on the intracellular free calcium concentration [( Ca2+]i, measured with the fluorescent probe indo-1) and PGI2 release (measured with radioimmunoassay of 6-keto PGF1 alpha) in cultured endothelial cells from bovine aorta. Cells transferred to serum-free medium developed an increasing responsiveness to native LDL in terms of increases in [Ca2+]i. After 6 h, native LDL (20-160 micrograms/ml) concentration-dependently evoked immediate, but transient, elevations of [Ca2+]i (from 90 +/- 10 nmol/l to 530 +/- 60 nmol/l at 160 micrograms/ml LDL) and enhanced release of PGI2 at 160 micrograms/ml. Increases in [Ca2+]i were found also in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ indicating that native LDL induces mobilization of Ca2+ from internal stores. LDL oxidized by incubation with Cu2+ had no immediate effects on [Ca2+]i when applied at a concentration of 80 micrograms/ml, whereas 160 micrograms/ml, in the presence of 1 mmol/l extracellular Ca2+, elicited increases in [Ca2+]i and PGI2 release. We conclude that the stimulating actions of low concentrations of native LDL on endothelial cells are likely to be mediated by membrane receptors expressed after removal of serum.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Regulation of femoral vascular resistance by adenine nucleotides via endothelial and smooth muscle receptors.

It is well established that adenosine (ADO) and adenine nucleotides are potent vasodilators, but their role in local blood flow control is still under debate. Recent findings on contribution of vascular endothelium to the vasomotor regulation pointed out this problem. In the present study the effects of adenine nucleotides were investigated in vivo on the femoral arterial flow (FAF) and femoral vascular resistance (FVR). Selective suppression of the endothelium mediated dilation was achieved by gossypol (35 mumol/l). On intact hindlimbs ADO (4 mmol/l) and ATP (0.5 mmol/l) elicited 3.5-fold increase of FAF, in average. Resistance decreased by 6.24 +/- 0.58 and 7.23 +/- 1.12 peripheral resistance units (PRU100), respectively. After gossypol, ATP-induced dilation was either significantly suppressed (resistance-decrease was 3.70 +/- 0.58 PRU100; p less than 0.02 vs control) or turned to strong constriction (FAF decreased by 50%). ADO-induced dilation remained unchanged. These results, in agreement with in vitro data, suggest that adenosine directly relaxes the vascular smooth muscle of resistance vessels via P1-purinoceptors, while ATP-induced vasomotion is composed of a dilator effect mediated by endothelial P2y-receptors, and a direct constrictor effect on the vascular smooth muscle via P2x-purinoceptors.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1989

Endothelium- and sydnonimine-induced responses of native and cultured aortic smooth muscle cells are not impaired by nitroglycerin tolerance.

Tolerance to the cyclic GMP-mediated vasodilator action of nitroglycerin develops with prolonged exposure and may be mediated either by formation of less nitric oxide from nitroglycerin or by desensitization of soluble guanylate cyclase to activation with nitric oxide. In the latter case, smooth muscle cells tolerant to nitroglycerin should show cross-tolerance to nitric oxide released from sydnonimines and endothelial cells (endothelium-derived relaxing factor). Therefore cultured smooth muscle cells from rabbit aorta were pretreated for 1 h with vehicle or high concentrations (0.55 mM) of nitroglycerin or the sydnonimine SIN-1. The formation of cyclic GMP induced by subsequent small doses of nitroglycerin, sydnonimine SIN-1 and endothelium-derived relaxing factor (released from cultured endothelial cells) was compared with the changes in activation of soluble guanylate cyclase, cyclic GMP formation and vasodilation in response to the same stimuli in similarly pretreated segments from rabbit thoracic aortae. Both cultured and native smooth muscle cells remained responsive to stimulation with sydnonimine SIN-1 and endothelium-derived relaxing factor after pretreatment with nitroglycerin, vehicle, or sydnonimine SIN-1, even though they were tolerant to nitroglycerin after pretreatment with nitroglycerin. In contrast, activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by nitroglycerin and sydnonimine SIN-1 was attenuated in homogenates of nitrate-tolerant aortae. The findings suggest that nitroglycerin tolerance in intact cells does not involve desensitization of soluble guanylate cyclase, because in intact cells nitrate tolerance can be overcome by direct activators of soluble guanylate cyclase.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

LY 83583 (6-anilino-5,8-quinolinedione) blocks nitrovasodilator-induced cyclic GMP increases and inhibition of platelet activation.

We studied the effects and the mechanism of action of the cyclic GMP-lowering substance 6-anilino-5,8-quinolinedione (LY 83583) on cyclic GMP-mediated inhibition of platelet function. The activation of washed human platelets by thrombin was counteracted by 8-bromo-cyclic GMP and the direct activators of soluble guanylate cyclase, sodium nitroprusside and endothelium-derived relaxant factor (EDRF = nitric oxide). LY 83583 significantly antagonized the inhibitory effect of sodium nitroprusside and EDRF, but not that of 8-bromo-cyclic GMP, on thrombin-induced aggregation, ATP-release, adhesion to native endothelial cells and increase in concentration of free intracellular calcium ions. In accordance, increases in intracellular cyclic GMP by sodium nitroprusside and EDRF were attenuated by LY 83583. The inhibition of cyclic GMP-mediated effects on platelets by LY 83583 could be related to inhibition of platelet soluble guanylate cyclase, as the activation of the purified enzyme from platelets by sodium nitroprusside was directly inhibited by LY 83583. This effect of LY 83583 was attenuated in the presence of superoxide dismutase. Our findings support the hypothesis that sodium nitroprusside and EDRF inhibit platelet activation by stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase via nitric oxide. Consequently, inhibition of nitric oxide-induced cyclic GMP formation by LY 83583, which may act by intracellular generation of superoxide anions, facilitates platelet activation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1989

Nitric oxide synthesis in endothelial cytosol: evidence for a calcium-dependent and a calcium-independent mechanism.

Release of nitric oxide (NO) from endothelial cells critically depends on a sustained increase in intracellular free calcium maintained by a transmembrane calcium influx into the cells. Therefore, we studied whether the free cytosolic calcium concentration directly affects the activity of the NO-forming enzyme(s) present in the cytosol from freshly harvested porcine aortic endothelial cells. NO was quantified by activation of a purified soluble guanylate cyclase co-incubated with the cytosol. In the presence of 1 mM L-arginine, 0.1 mM NADPH and 0.1 mM EGTA, endothelial cytosol (0.2 mg of cytosolic protein per ml) stimulated the activity of guanylate cyclase 5.0 +/- 0.5-fold (from 31 +/- 9 to 153 +/- 15 nmol cyclic GMP formed per min per mg guanylate cyclase). Calcium chloride increased this stimulation further in a concentration-dependent fashion by up to 136 +/- 15% (with 2 microM free calcium; EC50 0.3 microM). The calcium-dependent and -independent activation of guanylate cyclase was enhanced by superoxide dismutase (0.3 microM) and was inhibited by the stereospecifically acting inhibitor of L-arginine-dependent NO formation NG-nitro-L-arginine (1 mM) and by LY 83583 (1 microM), a generator of superoxide anions. Our findings suggest a calcium-dependent and -independent synthesis of NO from L-arginine by native porcine aortic endothelial cells.

Aminoquinolines↗
PubMed1989

Nitrate action on epicardial coronary arteries and tolerance: new aspects based on longterm glyceryl trinitrate infusions in dogs.

Continuous application of organic nitrates in patients causes a well-documented attenuation of their antianginal efficacy. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is assumed to reverse this nitrate tolerance by replenishing depleted intracellular sulphydryl groups, but data on NAC application in patients are controversial. Therefore, we studied the effect of NAC on epicardial artery vasomotion under nitrate tolerance, and we examined under these conditions the epicardial artery dilations induced by glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) and those mediated by the endothelium, since the activation of soluble guanylate cyclase is a common mechanism of these two reactions. Tolerance was induced in chronically instrumented dogs by long-term GTN infusion (1.5 micrograms kg-1 min-1 i.v. for 5 to 6 days) and shifted the GTN dose response curve of epicardial arteries to 17- to 20-fold higher doses. However, there was no alteration of epicardial artery dilations induced by SIN-1, another activator of guanylate cyclase, or of endothelium-mediated dilations. Furthermore, NAC (100 mg kg-1 i.v.) did not alter the dose-response relation of GTN under tolerance. In vitro, however, NAC potentiated the activation of purified soluble guanylate cyclase by GTN, while NAC without GTN was ineffective. In non-tolerant dogs, NAC slightly (1.5- to 2-fold) augmentated dilations induced by 0.5-1.5 micrograms kg-1 min-1 GTN, and a similar small augmentation of GTN dilations by NAC is observed in patients, regardless whether they are tolerant to nitrates or not. We conclude: (1) a step prior to the guanylate cyclase activation is responsible for GTN-specific tolerance of epicardial arteries in vivo. (2) NAC does not reverse GTN-specific tolerance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMed1989

Flow-dependent regulation of coronary vasomotor tone.

Large coronary artery calibres are regulated by humoral factors (autacoids) released from the endothelial cell lining. Several hormones, transmitters and platelet-derived products like serotonin and ATP or acetylcholine, noradrenaline, and histamine, stimulate such an autacoid release and thus an endothelium-mediated dilation in addition to their direct constrictor effect on the vasculature. Another mechanical stimulus is the flow-induced shear stress acting as viscous drag upon the endothelial surface along with the pulsatile stretching of the endothelial lining, which causes, in a moment to moment fashion, a continuous adjustment of coronary calibres. With endothelial function impaired or absent as in atheromatosis or after balloon catheter denudation this adjustment is compromised. Thus unbalanced constrictor effects may become effective especially in the presence of a simultaneously reduced platelet antiaggregation.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Modulation of the vasodilator action of SIN-1 by the endothelium.

We studied the influence of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) on sydnonimine (SIN-1)-induced vasodilatation and the accumulation of cyclic GMP in the rabbit femoral artery. The potency of SIN-1 to elicit vasodilatation in norepinephrine-contracted femoral arteries was significantly enhanced in the absence of the endothelium or following impairment of the synthesis of EDRF with gossypol or NG-nitro-L-arginine, whether the application of SIN-1 was intra- or extraluminal. The increase in cyclic GMP in the femoral segments by a combination of SIN-1 and endothelium-derived relaxant factor (released by the endothelium of either the rabbit thoracic aorta or the femoral artery) was significantly less than the sum of the increases in cyclic GMP induced by each agent alone. In contrast, stimulation of purified soluble guanylate cyclase by submaximal concentrations of SIN-1 was additive with the effect of EDRF, released from acetylcholine-stimulated rabbit aortas. This indicates the absence of a direct interaction between the factor and SIN-1 at the level of soluble guanylate cyclase. The interaction seems to be specific for cyclic GMP-mediated responses, since cyclic AMP-induced dilatations elicited by isoproterenol were not affected by the presence of the endothelium. The results indicate that the endothelium can modulate the vascular reactivity to SIN-1. This modulation may be mediated either by EDRF or by another endothelial substance that alters the metabolism or the action of cyclic GMP in vascular smooth muscle.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Nitrate tolerance in epicardial arteries or in the venous system is not reversed by N-acetylcysteine in vivo, but tolerance-independent interactions exist.

N-acetylcysteine is assumed to reverse nitrate tolerance by replenishing depleted intracellular sulfhydryl groups, but data on interactions of N-acetylcysteine and nitrates in patients with stable angina are controversial and disappointing. Therefore, we studied the effect of N-acetylcysteine on nitrate responsiveness of epicardial arteries and of the venous system (assessed as changes in effective vascular compliance) in dogs (n = 12) during long-term nitroglycerin treatment (1.5 micrograms/kg/min i.v. for 5-6 days). In dogs with nitroglycerin-specific tolerance (shift of venous or epicardial artery dilation to 15-17-fold higher dosages), N-acetylcysteine (100 mg/kg i.v.) had no dilator effect and did not alter the dose-response relations of nitroglycerin. Yet, in nontolerant dogs (n = 17), N-acetylcysteine augmented (1.5-2.0-fold) the dilation of epicardial arteries and the reduction of peripheral vascular resistance induced by 0.5-1.5 micrograms/kg/min nitroglycerin. In vitro, the augmentation of purified guanylate cyclase activity by nitroglycerin (10-100 microM) was potentiated by N-acetylcysteine (0.01-1.0 mM) in saline or in canine plasma, but N-acetylcysteine alone was ineffective. We conclude that 1) N-acetylcysteine does not restore nitroglycerin responsiveness in tolerant epicardial arteries or veins in vivo, 2) a small, tolerance-independent augmentation of nitroglycerin-induced dilation may result from N-acetylcysteine-induced extracellular formation of a stimulant of guanylate cyclase from nitroglycerin.

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMed1989

Sympathoadrenal inhibition by atrial natriuretic peptide is not attenuated during development of congestive heart failure in dogs.

The feedback control of neuroendocrine activity by cardiopulmonary blood volume is disturbed in congestive heart failure. By analyzing plasma catecholamine kinetics, we tested in 11 chronically instrumented conscious dogs whether attenuations in the sympathoadrenal inhibition induced by atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) contributed to this disturbance. Low-output failure was brought about by continuous ventricular pacing at 265 beats/min for 2 weeks. This resulted in a decline in aortic flow by 37 +/- 5% (SEM), an increase in peripheral vascular resistance by 48 +/- 4%, a 13 +/- 3-fold elevation in plasma ANP, a 9 +/- 3-fold elevation in plasma renin activity, and an augmentation of the norepinephrine-release rate into plasma by 132 +/- 17%. During ANP infusion, the epinephrine-release rate declined by 26 +/- 5% per 10-fold elevation in plasma ANP before pacing and by 31 +/- 7% (not significantly different) after 2 weeks of pacing. Before pacing, ANP attenuated plasma renin activity and caused hypotension without a rise in norepinephrine-release rate. After 2 weeks of pacing, ANP lowered norepinephrine release (by 16 +/- 6%) without affecting blood pressure or plasma renin activity, and vascular nonresponsiveness to ANP was verified under autonomic blockade. These data indicate that, during the development of heart failure, an inhibitory action of ANP on norepinephrine release is unmasked by an ANP-specific vascular desensitization, whereas the inhibition of epinephrine release is observed throughout. It is concluded that ANP-induced sympathoadrenal inhibition is not attenuated and, therefore, does not contribute to the disturbed regulation observed early in the development of failure.

Adrenal Medulla↗
PubMed1989

Anti-ischemic actions of molsidomine by venous and large coronary dilatation in combination with antiplatelet effects.

Molsidomine and its vasoactive metabolite SIN-1 elicit anti-ischemic properties by a therapeutically useful pattern of different vasoactive actions combined with a cyclic GMP-mediated inhibition of platelet adhesion and aggregation. Following molsidomine or SIN-1, local venodilatation and an increase in total effective vascular compliance (as an integrated parameter of venodilatation) were observed. This reduction in preload caused a decrease in myocardial oxygen consumption. Molsidomine caused a slowly progressing dilatation (still present and significant after 4 h), while SIN-1 caused an immediate increase in diameter of the large coronary arteries. The cyclic GMP-mediated dilator effects were accompanied by similar increases in platelet cyclic GMP levels (in the effluent of perfused hearts), indicating an increased potential against platelet activation, adhesion, and aggregation. The combined effect on cardiac preload, conductance of the epicardial arteries, and inhibition of platelet activation improves the ratio between myocardial oxygen supply and demand and suppression of ischemic events.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[The effect of carbon dioxide baths on blood pressure of borderline hypertensive patients].

In 423 patients with borderline hypertension (at rest and/or during exercise) the potential blood pressure reducing effect of CO2-baths was studied. Using standardized blood pressure measurements at rest and during exercise, it was investigated to what extent a fourweek course of CO2-baths could induce a reduction of blood pressure in these patients. They were randomly assigned to a course of baths with either high or low CO2-concentration. A significant fall in blood pressure, both at rest and during exercise was observed in both groups during the course of treatment. Multiple regression analysis identified the loss in body weight during treatment as the main influence factor on reduction in blood pressure. By contrast, no (additional) specific therapeutic effect of CO2-baths on blood pressure reduction could be observed.

Adult↗